New Delhi, Sep 8 - Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni Tuesday announced plans to set up four more branches of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), India's premier institute of journalism.

Soni also announced the upgradation of the IIMC into an international media university.

The IIMC will have four more branches, one each in Jammu and Kashmir, Mizoram and in southern and western India, Soni said at the 42nd convocation function held at the IIMC campus here.

These institutes would be set up in a phased manner and proposals will be firmed up soon in consultation with the concerned agencies and the state governments, Soni said to applause from over 200 students in the IIMC auditorium.

The information and broadcasting ministry is working out the modalities to develop this institute into a world class media education, training and research university, Soni said.